DISCIPULUS: Keyword for NIC

The NWAC has identified violations of league rules by North Idaho College in regard to the men’s basketball team and the booster club. The league imposed disciplinary sanctions on NIC. The reaction of three well-known local leaders in their My Turn column last week was for NIC to “Reunite with former conference.” Sports writer Steve Cameron justified the name of his column (The Cheap Seats) with his headline, “Memo to NWAC: Up yours.” Really, is that and the accompanying rant the best we can get?

Nowhere in all this ink has anyone said the violations did not happen. They contend the sanctions are too harsh, NIC is too under-appreciated, NIC should pack up and leave NWAC. Some argue that the new NIC students will suffer from all this when none of it was their doing. Many will be badly affected by the violations, not only here, but students and athletic programs through the whole league. These issues ripple outward.

“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lessons afterwards.” Vernon Law, wrote in This Week. The lesson here is do what is right especially when you are setting the example for young people starting out on life’s journey. Don’t cripple them at the start.

As I recall from my Navy days that the root word for discipline is discipulus, the Latin word for pupil and it means to teach. Disciplining NIC is especially appropriate for a college. It is not an act of “getting back or even,” it is a method of teaching appropriate behavior.

BOB HUNT

Post Falls